𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬

          "𝔗here's a son of Hades at the door." I paused in what I was doing, twisting slowly to look up at my sister as if I was in trouble. "Something about you owing him?"

I began to wrack my brain, trying to think of anything that I had done recently that would lead to me owing the son of Hades anything. It hadn't been during Capture the Flag, or archery, or anything like that. Had it been during arts and crafts? What could I owe a Son of Hades for in arts and crafts?

"Dude, just go and talk to him." My sister rolled her eyes, clambering back into her bed as I stood up and advanced towards the door slowly. Opening it, I cocked an eyebrow as I came face to face with the Son of Hades. Or, really it was face to night sky considering Nico di Angelo's growth spurt had still left him shorter than me.

The height thing really annoyed him.

"Nico, hey..." I leant in the doorframe, looking down at the Son of Hades. Nico's hands were on his hips, a weirded out look plastered across his face, and he was dressed in jeans and a thick aviator jacket over the top of what seemed to be his pyjamas. "Is that Mickey Mouse on your shirt?"

"What?" He looked down, before zipping his jacket up with a scowl. "Look, can you drive me to McDonald's?"

"It's almost curfew."

"Yeah?"

"And I could get eaten." I pointed out, before motioning to my own pyjamas. "I was about to go to bed."

"Yeah, but you owe me." I shot him a blank look. "Seriously, how do you not remember what you owe me?"

"I'm drawing a blank here." Nico sighed, shaking his head as I grabbed my car keys from the hook behind the door. "You can tell me about it in the car."

A small grin appeared on Nico's face, as I yanked trainers and a hoodie on, heading out of the cabin with a small wave to my sisters and a quick 'I'll be back in ten' to my cabin leader.

Nico and I were quick to fall into a comfortable silence, trudging up the hill and dipping down to the left of what had once been Thalia's tree, finding ourselves in the hidden car park at the bottom. It was mainly used by parents when they were dropping us off for the summer camp, but a few of us who were over 16, had our licenses and I'd manage to save up money from a job during school time to get myself a car.

It was a terrible car. A shitbox in other words, but hey, it was four wheels and an engine and it got me from a to b.

"Why didn't you just shadow fall?"

"Shadow travel."

"Yeah but whenever you do it, you're always collapsing." I pointed out, starting the engine up as Nico climbed into the front seat, yawning. "So, why not?"

"Got banned. Again." Nico shook his head. "Apparently I don't eat a balanced diet. I think I do."

"I'm not knowledgeable enough to comment." I put my hands up as Nico shot me an annoyed look. "But, given that we're going to McDonald's at ten minutes to curfew, maybe it could use some work."

"Hey, I get a Happy Meal. It has carrot sticks." Nico pointed out. "I eat my vegetables."

"You're the size of a bean, that's such a lie." I shot back, as Nico seemed to fight the urge to try and choke me. It was a good thing I was driving. "See, I'm seventeen and a healthy height, because my dad forced vegetables into me. You're seventeen and like a foot tall."

"I'm 5 foot 9, thanks." Nico scowled. "That's tall."

"Small."

"You children of Aphrodite are always on and on about physical traits. Maybe I have a great personality to make up for my height." I had to turn away from the road to shoot him an incredulous look. "We're supposed to be friends. You're supposed to be backing me up."

"Nico, mate, you threatened to set skeletons on me for two years." I pointed out, as Nico pulled a face. "No, that's true!"

"It was only 19 months."

"Oh wow, what a difference." I shot back, screeching around a corner that almost sent Nico flying out of the window. He tugged on his seatbelt a few times, making sure that it was clicked into place as I drove the familiar path to the nearest McDonald's. "Because setting skeletons on someone for any amount of time is the sign of a great personality."

"I like my alone time." Nico huffed, before I sped through a junction and pulled into the parking lot. We both jumped out, still bickering as Nico tried to shove me into a bush.

Getting into the McDonald's, I was quick to order a milkshake and fries, waiting for Nico to order and pay.

"So, what did I owe you for this time?" I leant back, both of us waiting for our orders to be called as Nico sat down ahead of me.

"Got you out of trouble with Mr D."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Nico nodded, throwing ketchup packets between his hands. "He said you were causing drama and then, you know, you did shove his son into the lake and he wanted to turn you into a vine. I managed to distract him and get you not vine-ified."

"When was that?"

"Six months ago." Nico nodded, before grinning as I shot him a glare. "What?"

"Seriously, dude, let stuff go." I pointed out, grabbing my milkshake and fries quickly. "You could have just asked and I probably would have said yes."

"I know, I thought you'd need extra persuasion." Nico grabbed his own food as both of us legged it back to the car, clambering in so that I could speed off back to camp. There was a five minute leniency with the harpies after curfew, but even that was cutting it a bit fine. "Anyway, thanks for the ride."

"Thanks for the food. Next time, could you just ask me slightly earlier in advance?"

He laughed, already eating his carrot sticks and putting the toy into my food bag, as I took the corner at speed once more, feeling the car skid beneath me. I parked quickly, both of us scrambling up the hill as silently as possible.

"Do you think we're in time?" I skidded on the wet grass, almost falling down the hill as Nico grabbed the back of my hoodie and hauled me upright. "I should have taken a watch."

"I don't know. Surely, not more than 15 minutes." Nico gasped for air, neither of us having been prepared to run. There was a loud screech. "Oh-"

"-Shit." I finished his sentence, before both of us sprinted for the cabins, waving at each other before I dived into my own cabin, and surprised my siblings.

"Gods above." I groaned, holding my side as my sister shot me a glare, standing over the top of me with her hands on her hips. "And you didn't even get any for the rest of us. Snake."

∘☽༓☾∘

"I've got a list of orders to get that's half a mile long." I complained as Nico joined me at the car. It was a boiling hot day in the middle of summer, meaning that he, for once, was showing more skin than his hands and had lost the aviator jacket. I, on the other hand, was not coping well, and was in shorts and a t-shirt, flip flops on my feet.

"Tell me about it." Nico showed me a list that he had to get for other people, as the both of us combined the cash into the centre console of the car. "I didn't know I was destined to be a waiter."

"That's what you get for announcing loudly that we were going to Maccies."

"I didn't know I was being loud." I gave his dark hair a yank in response. "Ow!"

"You stood up, looked over at me from across the amphitheatre and went 'Let's go get Maccies!' in the loudest voice possible and when we were surrounded by people." I pointed out, hissing as my hands touched the too hot plastic of the car. "And in front of all those people. I'm broke, Nico, I can't afford to be buying lots of McDonald's for people."

"If we forget someone, we forget someone." Nico shrugged in an unapologetic manner, before starting to grin. "It was kind of funny."

I rolled my eyes, ruffling my own hair before focusing on the drive. The wind was refreshing, cooling me down as we zipped through the countryside in a very familiar path.

"You getting a happy meal again?"

"Why do you have to say it with such judgement?" Nico scowled, as I met his dark eyes and winked. "I think a happy meal is a great option to have."

"Yeah, for a three year old."

"It's great for summoning spirits. Can a three year old do that?" Nico pulled a face, as I hummed.

"I don't know. You're about the size of one and you do it."

"Pull this car over and I'm going to run you over with it."

"You don't have a license." I pointed out, before grinning at him. He was glaring at me again, but I paid it little mind. Nico and I had been friends since he'd come to camp, well at least on my side we were. He'd tried to kill me for about two years before coming round to the fact that actually, it would be pretty cool if we were friends because I am a nice person. He and I had done most things together, and I was his normal person to go to for company, which was an honour in itself. Despite all our bickering, he was probably my favourite person at camp.

"Okay, we're here." I pulled into my normal parking space, which really should have a name plate for me and Nico with how often we were there. "Got the money?"

"Yeah, yeah. Ye of little faith." Nico rolled his eyes, both of us heading into the quiet store to ruin their days with all of our orders.

By the time we had everything, I was pretty sure we'd taken all the food in the place. Nico and I packed the final bit of the car, slamming the doors as we climbed back in.

"I liked it more when it was just me and you getting Maccies." Nico huffed, pushing his dark hair back from his face as he scowled.

"Aww, you like me." Nico shot me a look that clearly said shut up. "It's all done now. No more trips for a while."

"What?"

"With everyone's order! Let me finish my sentence." I shot back as he scowled. "You make it sound like I was going to stop our Maccies run."

"I thought you were."

"Those are our special things. I would never." Nico hummed, turning away from me as I yawned. "I'd miss it if we stopped or you just decided to pull the disappearing act again."

"That was one time."

"Twice."

"What? When?" Nico shot me an offended look.

"Once when you were 12 and you disappeared and then another time when you decided to go Roman and not tell anyone, or me." I pointed out, as Nico hummed and pulled a face, conceding to the fact that it was possibly twice. "I was left on my own."

"You have other friends."

"Yes, but I missed you." I pointed out as Nico scowled and rolled his eyes. "I'm trying to give you affection and you roll your eyes at me? I'll start making you pay for petrol."

"I pay for Maccies!" Nico scowled, before we came to a stop and grabbed everything from the car. He threw the toy from his Happy Meal at me. "You're so overdramatic."

"Says you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

∘☽༓☾∘

Normally, Nico and I would go to Maccies every few days or so, but as the months went on, our trips began to dwindle down to once a week. I might have just assumed he was broke and left it at that, but considering he was now starting to avoid me around camp.

It was like before when he took off to be Roman and didn't tell me and I didn't like that. The last time he left had caused me a lot of pain. It was weird not having him with me and for him to disappear and just not say anything was even worse.

The Hades cabin normally scared most people away, but considering I'd been in and out of it often enough, it had never done that to me. Banging on the door, I waited for it to open, knowing that Nico would be in as it was just before curfew.

"What do you want?"

"Wow. No hey, hi, how are you?" I cocked an eyebrow at the shorter Italian. His hair was a mess, bags beneath his eyes and a scowl on his face which was normally not directed to me with that intensity. "Come on. Maccies trip."

"I'm not going."

"Wasn't a question. Come on." I jingled my car keys like I was trying to call a cat, making Nico sigh. He did as I'd asked though, pulling shoes on and grabbing his jacket as we trudged the familiar path towards my car.

Unlike most other times, this one was silent and a little awkward, which was odd. I was normally very good at keeping things not awkward and a conversation going (which was no small feat). Still, we made it to McDonald's and I grabbed a milkshake, sitting down as I waited for Nico to join me.

He did, sliding a Happy Meal over to me in the process.

"Thanks?" He huffed, waving it off as we ate in silence. "Why are you avoiding me?"

"I'm sitting opposite you."

"At camp." I deadpanned, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. This was not going to be an easy conversation. "You only did this when you left last time. So, are you leaving? If you are, it's fine but it would have been nice if you told me so that I knew an-"

"I'm not leaving." Nico cut me off, shaking his head.

"Oh."

We fell into silence again.

"So, why you avoiding me then?" I pulled my legs up beneath me, looking over at Nico. His dark eyes were flicking around the room, looking anywhere but me. "Hey, come on, you know you can tell me anything?"

"Yeah, but it's weird."

"What?" I began to grow concerned. "Weird like time to call the cops?"

"No." Nico looked disgusted, finally looking over at me.

"Oh good." I grinned as he rolled his eyes. "So, why's it weird? Did you start dating someone and they hate the fact you've got friends? Cause that's not healthy."

"I'm not dating anyone."

"Alright." I narrowed my eyes, watching him cautiously.

"You're so oblivious." He finally groaned, throwing his hands in the air as I watched him. He was ignoring me and suddenly I was oblivious? That didn't make sense.

"What?"

"Your mom is the goddess of love and you can't work it out?" He was making very Italian gestures with his hands, and I was struggling to concentrate on anything but that.

"Work what out?" His face turned even more shell shocked in an instant.

"You're an idiot. I like you."

"I'd hope so, we're friends." I pointed out as Nico slammed his head against the table. "Do you have a concussion?"

"You're so stupid." Nico ran his hand through his hair. "No, I like you. I've been giving you all of my Happy Meal toys for months."

"I thought you just didn't like them." I shook my head, with a shrug, trying to connect some dots in my brain that seemed to be running on fumes at the moment. "And it was payment for me driving."

"I could have shadow travelled. I wanted to spend time together."

"You said you were banned!" I pointed at him.

"Yes, to spend time with you!" Nico looked close to tearing his hair out. "How are you so oblivious? I like you."

"Damn." I paused, leaning back as I began to pick through all our interactions in my head. Now that I thought back on it, most of the camp did seem to think we were dating, maybe that should have been the first sign.

"You know, if you didn't like me, you could just say. Now I'm going to have to change my name to Jonathan and move to South America." Nico began to mutter, grabbing his things as he started to walk outside. I scrambled to follow him. "I'm going to have to shave my head and wear glasses."

"Hey!"

"What?"

"This is why I said you were overdramatic." I pointed at him, stopping him before he could get in the car. "You didn't even give me time to respond."

"You literally didn't pick up on the fact that I liked you, and then sat there blankly, I kind of put two and two together that you didn't like me."

"Bit harsh." I muttered. "Also, I can't help that you're terrible at flirting? Sorry, handing me the toys? That was your idea of flirting?"

"What was I supposed to do, come out and say, I really like you, we should date with some stupid pick up line?"

"Yes." I nodded, before Nico grumbled and slammed the car door. I pulled my hand out quickly, glaring at him before getting in the other side. "You know, some would say that's harmful to your spouse."

"We're not dating."

"Well, you never let me finish what I was saying." I pointed out, turning to him. "I was going to say, wow, thanks for avoiding me over something that could have been solved months ago, we should date."

"You were going to say that?" Nico looked over at me with wide eyes.

"Yeah. Unless you don't want me to." I grinned at him, moving to start the car. His dark eyes were boring into the side of my head. "What? We're practically dating already, not that far of a jump from best friends to this."

"It's kind of a far jump."

"No, not really."

"We can kiss if we're dating."

"We could have kissed if we were friends." I shrugged, before turning away as Nico's jaw dropped. "Oh well."

∘☽༓☾∘

𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

"I brought food." Nico didn't bother to check whether or not I was in, kicking my door open with little to no care. I almost jumped at the sound, spinning from my essay to look over at my boyfriend. He stood in the door, two Happy Meals in one hand and sipping a Pepsi in the other hand. "Hi."

"Hello." I shot him a look. "Why are you here?"

"Wow. I come and visit you and this is the response? I guess I'll just leave."

"You saw me three hours ago." I pointed out, before standing up to try and hug my boyfriend, who was attempting to dodge. "Gods above, accept affection!"

"I'm holding food."

"You tackled me this morning when I was eating cereal." I grumbled, finally managing to catch my boyfriend and hug him as he dumped the Happy Meals onto the bed. "Hi honey."

"Call me that again, I'm going to suffocate you in your sleep." Nico grumbled, his arms wrapping around my waist as I kissed his cheek. Despite his protests, I could see the blush on his cheeks.

"Why the food?"

"Thought I'd treat you. Know your essay has been hard." Nico mumbled, as I grinned and pressed a kiss to his lips softly. He tasted like Pepsi and carrots, which meant that he'd already started eating his Happy Meal (and possibly part of mine too) but it was familiar and like home.

"You're the best."

"And the toys were funny in the Happy Meal, so got those for you." Nico had kept up with his tradition of giving me the toys from the Happy Meals, meaning that over my bed, I had a shelf filled with Happy Meal toys. We were regulars at McDonald's to the point they now knew us by name and order. "You almost done?"

"Just about to submit."

"Great." Nico grinned, collapsing onto my bed to continue to eat his Happy Meal. "I was thinking we should go out soon."

"Yeah?" I made a few more spelling changes, before uploading it and submitting it to my professor. I sank down beside Nico, grabbing my own meal and eating it as he chucked the Happy Meal toy at my head. "Where to?"

"I don't know. Percy suggested this new restaurant about twenty minutes away. Said it was great, thought we'd like it."

"Sounds good to me." I sent him a grin, before wrapping an arm around my boyfriend's shoulders. "I'd love that."

"Yeah course you'd like me spending money cause you're broke."

"Why you got to ruin everything?"

∘☽༓☾∘

Hiya,

So, the headcanon is that basically if Nico had been around more people, he'd kind of half pick up on snarkiness from Percy and be good at going back and forth with someone ish. Both these two were oblivious, ish, but it was fun and I enjoyed it. Hopefully you guys did too. Requested by Endiya3 

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx